The Holy Bible: Containing The Old and New Testaments; Translated Literally From The Original Tongues.

SMITH, Julia Evelina [Translator].

$8,200.00

Item Number: 142865

Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company, 1876.

First edition of the first complete translation of the Bible into English done by a woman, Julia E. Smith (1792-1886), of Glastonbury Connecticut. One of 1,000 copies printed. Quarto, bound in full modern calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers. In near fine condition. An invaluable Bible for its period which remains a rare translation.

In her preface to the present volume, Smith states: "It may seem presumptuous for an ordinary woman with no particular advantages of education to translate and publish alone, the most wonderful book that has ever appeared in the world, and thought to be the most difficult to translate. It has occupied the time and attention of the wisest and most learned of all ages, believing, as the world has believed, that such only could give the correct rendering of the language in which the Bible was written... It may seem presumptuous for an ordinary woman with no particular advantages of education to translate and publish alone, the most wonderful book that has ever appeared in the world, and thought to be the most difficult to translate. It has occupied the time and attention of the wisest and most learned of all ages, believing, as the world has believed, that such only could give the correct rendering of the language in which the Bible was written." Smith began her translation in 1847 and finished it in 1855. In 1876, at 84 years of age, some 21 years after completing her work, she finally sought publication. The publication costs ($4,000) were personally funded by Julia and her sister Abby Smith. The 1,000 copies printed were offered for $2.50 each, but her household auction in 1884 sold about 50 remaining copies. The translation was one of only a few contemporary English translations out of the original languages available to English readers until the publication of the Revised Version in 1881–1894. This makes it an invaluable Bible for its period. The translation also appears to have been banned in its history, likely due to the translator being a woman, and it remains a rare translation.